diff --git a/mod/events.php b/mod/events.php
index b4516cded9..91474022fc 100644
--- a/mod/events.php
+++ b/mod/events.php
@@ -542,16 +542,14 @@ function events_content(App $a) {
 
 	// Remove an event from the calendar and its related items
 	if ($mode === 'drop' && $event_id) {
-		$del = 0;
-
 		$ev = Event::getListById(local_user(), $event_id);
 
 		// Delete only real events (no birthdays)
 		if (DBA::isResult($ev) && $ev[0]['type'] == 'event') {
-			$del = Item::deleteForUser(['id' => $ev[0]['itemid']], local_user());
+			Item::deleteForUser(['id' => $ev[0]['itemid']], local_user());
 		}
 
-		if ($del == 0) {
+		if (Item::exists(['id' => $ev[0]['itemid']])) {
 			notice(L10n::t('Failed to remove event') . EOL);
 		} else {
 			info(L10n::t('Event removed') . EOL);